Josephus Roosevelt Coan (1902-2004), African American clergyman, missionary, and educator. He served the African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.) as a teacher, pastor, missionary, and acting Bishop in South Africa and then pursued a lengthy career as a pastor and a scholar and teacher of Christian education, based mainly in Atlanta, Georgia. Born November 26, 1902, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, Coan earned a B.A. from Howard University (1930), a B.D. (1933) and an M.A. in Christian Education from Yale University (1934), and a Ph.D. from Hartford Seminary Foundation (1961).

From 1934 to 1938, Coan taught at Morris Brown College and Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. Coan travelled to the British colony of South Africa in 1938 to help establish the R.R. Wright School of Religion on the campus of Wilberforce Institute in Evaton, Transvaal Province. In 1940 he was selected to become the first Black superintendent of Wilberforce Institute. From 1940-1948, he was also the acting African Methodist Episcopal bishop over an area that included the areas covered by the modern nations of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and Malawi.

After returning to the United States and settling in Georgia, Coan pursued a career as a teacher, scholar and pastor. He worked for Morris Brown College and the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta until his retirement in 1976.

Biographical source: Mercedes Campbell Brown, The Unconquered Mountain: Dr. Josephus Coan’s life and Work in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Africa, 1938-1948. Nashville: A.M.E. Publishing House, 1995.

Scope and Content Note

The collection contains the papers of Josephus Coan from 1896-2002. The papers include correspondence, writings by Coan and others, diaries and appointment books, records relating to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal Church (Atlanta, Georgia), teaching files, subject files, photographs, personal papers, printed material, and audiovisual material.

The collection documents Coan's work as a missionary in South Africa, as a pastor at St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal Church, and as an educator at Morris Brown College and the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta.

The series contains both general and family correspondence from 1896-1990. The general correspondence documents Coan's friendships and his professional life. There is correspondence between Coan and other ministers in the African Methodist Episcopal Church which documents church leadership and activities. Employment correspondence documents Coan's teaching and administrative responsibilities at various institutions, including Morris Brown and the Interdenominational Theological Center. Other correspondence indicates Coan's interest in and involvement with Atlanta organizations.

The family correspondence contains letters to and from the Coan family. In particular, letters document the relationship between Coan and his wife, Sammye Fuller Coan, through their long separation during his time in South Africa.

The series consists of typescripts and manuscripts of writings by Coan and others from 1922-1987. Essays, book material, and speeches by Coan comprise the largest part of the series. Coan also kept a number of research files that he used to develop various writing projects. A smaller amount of material consists of writings by others that Coan collected, primarily relating to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Christian education.

Arrangement Note

Arranged into three subseries: (6.1) Writings by Coan, (6.2) Research material, and (6.3) Writings by others.

The subseries consists of manuscripts and typescripts of Coan's writings from 1928-1987, including articles, book projects, reviews, sermons, speeches, and student writing. Folders contain typescripts, manuscripts, notes, and a small amount of correspondence. Coan's shorter writings and book projects demonstrate his interest in missions to Africa, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the lives of individual missionaries. Of particular interest are the essays and reflections he wrote as a missionary in South Africa from 1945-1947. The bulk of Coan's student writing pertains to his doctoral work at Hartford Seminary. For lecture notes relating to his teaching, refer to the Teaching Files (Series 6).

Arrangement Note

Arranged in alphabetical order with the exception of speeches, which are arranged chronologically.

Articles and essays41"Adventures in South Africa," circa 194742"African Methodist Episcopal Church," no date43"African Methodism and Foreign Missions," no date44"A.M.E. Missionary Work," circa 194745"An Bord der Deutschland," circa 194746"Beginnings of the A.M.E. Church in Central Africa"47"Birth of Ghana and the Rebirth of A.M.E. Missions," no date48"Birth of Ghana: How Did It Come About?" no date49"Bishop Francis Herman Gow," no date410"Bishop Greene Raises $87,000 for Morris Brown College, Request for Bishop Greene's Return is Unanimous," no date411"Bishop Greene's Three-Point Program for the A.M.E. Church in Georgia," no date412"Bishop Turner, A.M.E., and the Back-to-Africa Movement," no date413"Black Theological Experience and Education at ITC (Interdenominational Theological Center)," June 18, 1972414"Black Women in Southern Africa," no date415"Brief Sketch of the Life of Bishop L.J. Coppin," no date416"By and By the Harvest," circa 1947417"Challenge of the Proposed West African Trip," Commission on Promotion, Morris Brown College, no date418"The Changed Field," circa 1947419"Christian Leadership Education Congress," no date420"The Church: Its Calling, Its Nature, Its Mission," no date421"The College Student Seeks a Faith: Where Does the Student Search?" no date422"Communicating the Christian Gospel," no date423"Conformers or Transformers?" no date424"Contemporary Missionary Challenges," no date425"Daniel Alexander Payne, Christian Educator," no date426"The Dream Came True," circa 1947427"Duties of a College Minister," no date428"Excerpts from Bishop Payne's 'Epistles on the Education of the Ministry," circa 1964429"Fire Story," no date430"First Days on the African Continent," circa 1947431"First Eight Volumes of The Voice of Missions," typescripts and research notes, circa 1971432"For Release," July 7, 1982433"Fourteenth Connectional Christian Education Congress: An Appraisal," no date434"Fresh Thrusts for African Methodism in the 1980s," no date435"Grace of Gratitude," no date436"Henry McNeal Turner, A Fearless Prophet of Black Liberation," 1973437"Historical Statement of the Interdenominational Theological Center," no date438"How I Have Implemented the 'Black Religious Experience' in My Classes," Theories of Learning in Christian Education, 1962439"How May We Get Children of Unchurched Families in Our Sunday School?" no date440"I Witnessed the Birth of Ghana," no date441"Implementing the Program of Leadership Development in the A.M.E. Church," no date442"Impressions of the AATS Summer Workshop," 1971443"Impressions of the Biennial Convention of the Religious Education Association," no date444"In England: The First Night," circa 1947445"Leadership Development," no date446"Membership in the African Methodist Episcopal Church," no date447"Missionary Pathfinders of South Africa," circa 1947448"Missionary Studies during the Summer Months," no date449"The Mission of the Black Church," Leadership Training Institute, August 197051"More Receptions," circa 194752"Mr. Saint Pierre Morris," no date53"Multiple Roles of the Black Preacher in Africa," no date54"Need for a Comprehensive Program of Leadership Training," no date55"Need of a Department of Religious Education in our Colleges and Seminars," no date56"Needed: A Re-Awakening in African Methodism," no date57"New Trends in Missionary Thought and Action," A.M.E. Church Recorder, June 20, 196158"Obeying to the Heavenly Visions," circa 194759"Observations on Missionary Stipends," no date510"Our Christian Mission in Light of the Gospel," no date511"Pastoral Counseling," no date512"A Peculiar Man I Have Met," no date513"Persecuted, But Not Forsaken," no date514"Petty Thief," no date515"Problems of the African Clergy," no date516"Problems of South Africa," no date517"Redemption of Africa: The Vital Impulse of Black American Overseas Missionaries," no date518"Rediscovering the Christian Mission," no date519Reflections, on train from Cape Town to Johannesburg, December 7, 1945520"Reginald Eaves Affair," no date521"Responsibility of the Seminary Towards its Sponsoring Denomination," no date522"Reverend Hannington Ziyezwa," circa 1947523"The Role of the Christian Church in the African Conflict," findings of the Workshop Group of the National Fraternal Council of Churches, Detroit, Michigan, April 28-30, 1953524"Role of the Christian Church in the New Africa," no date525"Seeing London," circa 1947526"Some Contributions of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to the Development of African Methodism in the Continent of Africa," no date527"Stolen Car," no date528"Theological Education for African Methodism in the 1980s," no date529"The Third Quadrennial Convention in Retrospect and Prospect," no date530"Three Pioneer Women," no date531"Training Builders," circa 1947532"Turner Theological Seminary in the Interdenominational Theological Center," February 15, 1963533"Unforgettable Reverend John Lester C. Membe," no date534"Unlucky Building," no date535"Who Is A General Officer?" no date536"Workshop on Strategy for Training Christian Education Conference Directors: Salient Points," 1961537"Worship and Practice," circa 1947Book projects: African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, 1864-1984538Annual conferences, Georgia, notes539Annual conferences, Macon, Georgia, notes540Annual conferences, North Georgia, notes541Annual conferences, South Carolina, notes542Annual conferences, Southwest Georgia, notes61Brown, Bishop John Mifflin, manuscripts with notes62Campbell, Bishop Jabez Pitt, manuscripts with notes63Dickerson, Bishop William Fisher, manuscripts with notes64Flipper, Bishop Joseph Simeon, manuscripts with notes65Fountain, Bishop William Alfred, manuscripts with notes66Gaines, Bishop Wesley John, manuscripts with notes67Grant, Bishop Abraham, manuscripts with notes68Smith, Bishop Charles Spencer, manuscripts with notes69Shorter, Bishop James Alexander, manuscripts with notes610Turner, Bishop Henry McNeal, manuscripts with notes611Ward, Bishop Thomas Marcus Decatur, manuscripts with notes612Wayman, Bishop Alexander Washington, manuscripts with notes613"Chapter 20: The Administration of Bishop Harold Irvin Bearden," manuscript71"Introduction and outline," manuscript72Part I: "Beginning of the A.M.E. Church in Georgia," manuscript73Part I: "By Way of Summary," manuscript74Part I, typescript with research notes75Part I, typescript [1 of 2]76Part I, typescript [2 of 2]77Part II: "A Half Century of Advance, 1892-1948," manuscript78Part II, typescript [1 of 4]79Part II, typescript [2 of 4]710Part II, typescript [3 of 4]711Part II, typescript [4 of 4]81Part III, typescript [1 of 3]82Part III, typescript [2 of 3]83Part III, typescript [3 of 3]84Manuscript and typescript fragments with notes [1 of 2]85Manuscript and typescript fragments with notes [2 of 2]86Typescript [1 of 5]87Typescript [2 of 5]88Typescript [3 of 5]89Typescript [4 of 5]91Typescript [5 of 5]92Typescript, partial draftBook projects: African Methodist Episcopal Church History: Four Nineteenth Century Giants93"Chapter I: The Birth of the African Methodist Episcopal Church," typescript94"Henry McNeal Turner: Prophet of Black Liberation," typescript95"Spirit and Message of Bishop Henry McNeal Turner," manuscript96"William Paul Quinn: Pioneer Missionary," typescript97Treatise on Henry McNeal Turner, typescripts and manuscripts98Typescripts [1 of 2]99Typescripts [2 of 2]Book projects: Black American Missionaries to Africa910"2nd Draft," manuscript [1 of 2]911"2nd Draft," manuscript [2 of 2]912"Black American Missionaries Overseas: Tentative Outline"913"Contents," typescript with notes914"Joseph F.B. and Gertrude Townsend Coleman," typescripts and manuscripts with notes101"Miss Anna E. Hall: God's Noble Woman," typescripts and manuscripts with notes [1 of 2]102"Miss Anna E. Hall: God's Noble Woman," typescripts and manuscripts with notes [2 of 2]103Missionaries to Liberia, typescripts and manuscripts with notes104Missionaries to Sierra Leone, manuscripts with notes105Missionaries to the West Indies, manuscripts106"Reverend Allen Henry Attaway," manuscripts with research notes107"Torchbearers," typescript108"W.L. Turner," manuscripts with notes109Typescript [1 of 3] [contains photographs]111Typescript [2 of 3] [contains photographs]112Typescript [3 of 3] [contains photographs]113Typescript, 1977 [1 of 2]114Typescript, 1977 [2 of 2]115Typescript, Chapters 1-3116Typescript, Chapters 8-12117Typescript, chapters converted to papers for the A.M.E. Church Review, 1987118Typescript fragmentsBook projects: The Black Church Scholars Series119Correspondence, 1110TypescriptsBook projects: Daniel Alexander Payne: Christian Educator1111Book jacket1112Typescripts and manuscriptsBook reviews121African Nationalism, Ndabaningi Sithole, 1959122Beneath the Southern Cross, Charlotte Crogman Wright, 1955123Better Leaders for Your Church, Weldon Crossland, 1955124Children in the Church, Iris Cully, 1960125The Church Redemptive, Howard Grimes, 1958126The Church's Educational Ministry: A Curriculum Plan, National Council of Churches, 1965127Fourteen Africans vs. One American, Frederic Fox, 1962128Freedom and Faith: New Approaches to Christian Education, J Gordon Chamberlin, 1965129God's Mission--And Ours, Eugene Smith, 19611210Global Odyssey, Howard Johnson, 19631211He Followed His Star: A Pen Portrait of the Life, Personality, and Chief Exploits of William Alfred Fountain, Sr., by Charles Leander Hill, 19871212"Hints for Book Reviewers," circa 19581213The Holy Spirit in Christian Education, by Rachael Henderlite, 19641214Let My People Go, Albert Luthuli, 19621215Rise Up and Walk, Abel Muzorewa, 19781216Teach Me to Teach, Dorothy Swain, 19641217Worship and Freedom: A Black American Church in Zambia, Walter Johnson, 1977Sermons and prayers1218"Are You a Part of the Problem or Are You a Part of the Answer?"1219"Dear Lord of Home"1220"Hitherto and Henceforward"1221Invocation, Interdenominational Theological Center Convocation, September 27, 19791222Litany of dedication1223"Prayer for the Ecumenical Service"1224"Prayer on the Occasion of the Funeral of Dr. John Albert Middleton," Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, June 26, 19751225"Promises of God"1226Sunrise Sermonettes, WSB-TV, 1978Speeches, lectures, and addresses1227Installation rituals, undated-19791228"The Aims of Religious Education," circa 1930s1229Notes for unidentified speeches, circa 1930s1230"Trying to Get There," circa 1930s1231Untitled speech, circa 1930s1232"The Challenge of the Present Crisis," Community Center House, October 2, 19321233"A Worthwhile Goal," Wilberforce University, September 22, 19331234"Youth and the Christian Quest," Young People's Institute, Norwalk, CT, August 24, 19341235"Church and the Changing World with Special Reference to World Outreach," circa 19451236Wilberforce address to general staff, March 11, 19471237"Needs of the A.M.E. Church in South Africa," Quadrennial Convention of the Women Missionary Society, Memphis, Tennessee, July 7-12, 19511238"Our Bishop and His Program," radio address, September 16, 19511239"Signs of Hope in a Century of Despair," circa 19531240"The African Methodist Episcopal Church's Representation of the Birth of Ghana, the Newest African Nation," circa 19571241"Cooperative Curriculum Project," circa 19611242"Leadership Education in the A.M.E. Church," circa 19611243"Bishop Henry McNeal Turner Speaks to This Generation," Morris Brown College Annual Banquet of Turner Theological Seminary, May 26, 1961; 87th Convocation Turner Theological Seminary, February 2, 19811244"Chinese Buddhism," Faculty seminar on Non-Western program, Hartford Seminary, November 28, 19611245"An Experiment in Improving the Quality of Leadership Education," circa 19631246"Introduction of Dr. Kenneth Scott Latourette," 19641247"Problems and Obstacles to Effectiveness in Theological Education," World Methodist Convocation on Theological Education, Didsbury College, Bristol, England, August 15-17, 19661248"Remarks to be Made at the Close of the Annual Christmas Party," sponsored by the I.T.C. Women's Fellowship, December 14, 1966131"Introduction of Speaker: Dr. Wilfred George Onslow Cartey," Symposium on Contemporary South Africa, circa 1969132"The Black Religious Experience and Theological Education at ITC Interdenominational Theological Center)," circa 1970133"Conformers or Transformers?" for the Dean's Hour, Interdenominational Theological Center, February 23, 1971134"A Tribute to the Founders, Benefactors and to President H.V. Richardson of the I.T.C.," 1975135"Looking Toward the Future," Mimosa Club, January 28, 1978136"Bishop Henry McNeal Turner, Basic Beliefs," Heritage Lecture Series No. 2, 88th Convocation Celebration of Turner Theological Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center, February 1, 1982137"Two Unsung Heroes of Early African Methodism," Heritage Lecture Series, 89th Convocation Celebration of Turner Theological Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center, February 7, 1983138"The African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, 1864-1984," Heritage Lecture Series No. 4, 90th Convocation Celebration of Turner Theological Seminary, Interdenominational Theological Center, February 6, 1984139"History of A.M.E. Missions," notes for address, 19861310"African Methodism: What of the Future?" no date1311"After Nine Years on the Missionary Field," no date1312"Being True to Oneself," no date1313"Bishop Payne Speaks," no date1314"Challenge of the Present Crisis," no date1315"Christian Quest in a World of Chaos" [State Christian Leadership Educational Congress], no date1316"Church and Changing Society," no date1317"Dimensions of the Christian Mission: The Mission of the A.M.E. Church," no date1318"Facing Life Gallantly," no date1319"The Function and the Future of Church-Related College," no date1320"Future Outlook of the A.M.E. Church," no date1321"Guiding Individual Growth" [State Christian Leadership Educational Congress], no date1322"Jesus Decision" [State Christian Leadership Educational Congress], no date1323Morris Brown welcome, no date1324"Our Changing Religious World" [State Christian Leadership Educational Congress], no date1325"Our Missionary Responsibility in a Revolutionary World," no date1326"Pastor's Word," no date1327"Two Black Adventurers, Two Black Apostles," State Christian Leadership Educational Congress [?], no date1328"What I Would Like to See in the T.T.S. Alumni Association," no date1329Young Men Progressive Club address, no date1330Notes for unidentified speeches, no dateStudent writing1331Hartford Seminary, "The Administration of the Work in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Africa," no date1332Hartford Seminary, African Culture II, class assignments and notes, circa 19551333Hartford Seminary, book review, The Crisis of Our Age, by Pitirin A. Sorokin, for SW-4 course, 19551334Hartford Seminary, "British, French, Belgian and Portuguese Colonial Policies in Africa," January 19, 19551335Hartford Seminary, "A Critique of the Voice of Missions as Documentary Sources, 1896-1908," typescript141Hartford Seminary, "Education Among the Bantu Peoples of South Africa, paper for African Culture I, no date142Hartford Seminary, "Expansion of African Methodist Episcopal Church Missions in South Africa from 1896 to 1908," reprinted from Dissertation Abstracts, vol. XXII, No. 6, 1961143Hartford Seminary, "Expansion of African Methodist Episcopal Church Missions in South Africa from 1896 to 1908," thesis proposal144Hartford Seminary, "Expansion of African Methodist Episcopal Church Missions in South Africa from 1896 to 1908," typescript with research notes145Hartford Seminary, "The Expansion of Christianity into Southern Rhodesia," April 26, 1955146Hartford Seminary, "In the School of Missions," January 28, 1955BV1-Hartford Seminary, notebook, "African Culture I," circa 1955BV2-Hartford Seminary, notebook, "African Culture II," 1955BV3-Hartford Seminary, notebook, "Anthropology," 1955BV4-Hartford Seminary, notebook, unidentified course147Hartford Seminary, notes on readings and lectures, circa 1969148Hartford Seminary, The Practice of Missions, class assignments, 1954149Hartford Seminary, "Secularism in the Church," final paper for SW-4, May 18, 19551410Hartford Seminary, reading notes1411Hartford Seminary, SW-4 class assignments, 1954-19551412Hartford Seminary, "The Work of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Southern Africa," May 17, 19551413Howard University, class notes, 19281414Howard University, Education 129, class notes and assignments, 19291415Howard University, Old Testament class notes, 19301416Yale University, book review, A Cure of Souls, by Charles T. Holman, 19321417Yale University, class notes, circa 1930s [1 of 2]151Yale University, class notes, circa 1930s [2 of 2]152Yale University, class notes, 1931153Yale University, Expansion of Christianity, class notes and assignments, 1931154Yale University, Moral Philosophy class notes, circa 1930s155Yale University, "Notes on the Educational Aspects of Worship," 1934156Yale University, Pastoral Psychology class notes, 1934157Yale University, Psychology of Religion class notes, 1934-1935158Unidentified class material, circa 1930s159Unidentified school, book review, This Foundation, July 21, 1949Subseries 2.2Research material, circa 1930-1986Boxes 15 (folder 10)-18 (folder 7)
Scope and Content Note

The subseries consists of research material Coan gathered to write his books, dissertation, and articles from approximately 1930-1986. Coan used this research for multiple and overlapping writing projects. Folders contain predominately research notes, many of which are taken from articles in

The Voice of Missions and The Christian Recorder. The content of the notes attests to Coan's interest in missions in Africa, especially South Africa. A smaller amount of material includes clippings and photocopies of articles Coan referred to while conceiving of his writing projects.
Arrangement Note

Arranged in alphabetical order.

1510African church history1511African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, Bishop Ernest Hickman1512African Methodist Episcopal Church in Georgia, clippings1513African Methodist Episcopal Church Polity [1 of 2]161African Methodist Episcopal Church Polity [2 of 2]162African missions [1 of 9]163African missions [2 of 9]164African missions [3 of 9]165African missions [4 of 9]171African missions [5 of 9]172African missions [6 of 9]173African missions [7 of 9]174African missions [8 of 9]175African missions [9 of 9]176African missions, African Methodist Episcopal Church reports177African missions, Sixth Session of the South African Annual Conference178Bishops of South Africa181Coker, Daniel182Mission of the Church [1 of 2]183Mission of the Church [2 of 2]184"Notes of the Episcopacy," circa 1980s185Notes from readings and lectures186Thoburn, James Mill, Bishop187"Voice of the Negro," 1971Subseries 2.3Writings by others, 1922-1987Boxes 18 (folder 8)-19
Scope and Content Note

The subseries consists of typescripts and manuscripts of writings by others collected by Coan from 1922-1987. Most of the material is composed of essays, articles, and addresses pertaining to the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Africa. Coan collected some of these works for his research; others were sent to him for review by friends, family, and colleagues.

Arrangement Note

Arranged in alphabetical order.

188Battles, Ford Lewis, "Weaving a Hair Suit for the Christian," March 3, 1959189Bland, Mrs. Margaret, "Highlights of the 3rd Quadrennial Convention of the Young People's Department of the Women's Missionary Society," no date1810Burnet, Rev. Amos, "Ethiopianism," The Christian Missionary Review, London, 19221811Chapman, Carrie M., "Children and the Peace," circa 19451812Cook, Ann, "Toward a Diachronic Approach to the Study of the Negro Dialect," April 10, 19671813Greene, Bishop S.L., "Emancipation: A Continuous Process," no date1814Hilliard, Asa G. III, "Selected Bibliography (Classified) on African-American History from Ancient Times to the Present: A Resource Packet," circa 19821815Lewis, Cecil and G.E. Edwards, "Historical Records of the Church of the Province of South Africa," London Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 19341816Membe, Rev. John Lester C., A Short History of the A.M.E. Church in Central Africa, 1900-1962, typescript of book, circa 19691817Middleton, Rev. J.A., "A Paper on the Prophet Amos," no date1818Modisapodi, D.S., "The Future of the Church in South Africa," circa 1940s1819Redkey, Edwin S., "Bishop Turner's African Dream," April 1964191Richardson, Harry V., "The Black Church in the Black Experience: The Black Church Overseas," 1987192Robinson, Dr. James McConkey, "A Critical Inquiry into the Scriptural Bases of Confessional Hermeneutics" and "Kerygma and History in the New Testament," no date193Swain, David L., "Comments on Japanese cultural history," Furloughed and New Missionary Conference, Area Meeting for East Asia, June 1965194Thornton, Edward E, "A Report on the Program of Human Development at Crozer Theological Seminary," June 14, 1968195Unidentified author, book review, George Rapp's Harmony Society 1785-1847, by Karl J.R. Arndt, University of Pennsylvania Press, no date196Unidentified author, "Introduction," paper on Christianity and psychoanalysis, no date197Wells, James, D.D., The Life of James Stewart, Second Edition, circa 1920s198Vance, Gwendolyn W., "The Life and Thoughts of Dr. Josephus Roosevelt Coan," outline, 1978199Whiston, Dr. Lionel A., "Exploring the Word," no date1910Wolfbrecht, Walter F., "What a Protestant Church Wants Its Seminaries To Be and To Do," Theological Education, Winter 19661911Zuck, Dr. Roy B., "Is Christian Education Biblical?" opening address at the Missions Seminar on Christian Education, Scripture Press Foundation, November 29-December 2, 1967Series 3Diaries/Appointment books, 1938-1994Boxes 20-23
Scope and Content Note

The series contains personal diaries and appointment books used by Coan between 1938 and 1994. The majority of the volumes include brief entries recording his day-to-day activities and expenditures. The earlier diaries are particularly descriptive of Coan's initial experiences in South Africa and his hopes for the development of the R.R. Wright School of Religion. Two volumes, "Journal, Meditations and other Thoughts, 1944-1946" and the 1947 diary, contain lengthy passages in which Coan reflects on a variety of issues relating to his work in South Africa, the development of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in South Africa, and his broader interest in religious education. The 1948 diary documents his return home and travel to numerous U.S. cities promoting reform in the African Methodist Episcopal Church's mission policy. The later diaries contain information about expenses, daily affairs, and prayer habits.

The series contains material from 1933-1989 relating to Coan's involvement in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States and Africa. Files are arranged roughly to mirror the structure of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, reflecting the operations of the General Conference and various Episcopal Districts. Published material of the Church, including conference proceedings, can be found in Printed Material (Series 10).

Most of the material pertains to the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States. Files include programs, schedules, minutes, and other material relating to activities of the General Conference, the 6th Episcopal District, the African Methodist Episcopal Ministers' Union, Coan's involvement with local churches, and missions. Of particular interest are Coan's campaigns for bishop in 1948 and 1952, as well as organizational files on the Christian Leadership Education Congress from 1950-1982.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church in Africa material pertains primarily to Coan's position as General Superintendent of the 15th and 17th Episcopal Districts. Files contain speeches and hymns, reports, travel records, financial statements, and planning for special events. Other material documents Coan's 1957 trip to Africa as an African Methodist Episcopal representative at the independence of Ghana. Additional material relating to Coan's work in South Africa at Wilberforce and as superintendent and acting bishop can be found in the scrapbook in Series 9, Personal Papers.

Coan served as pastor and later assistant pastor at St. Mark's African Methodist Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia. These files contain financial records, printed material, Vacation Bible School material, and other files relating to organizations and activities in the church. The committees and general files contain information about church membership, board meetings, and organizations within the church. The financial records provide information about the church budget and expenses. The printed material contains twenty years of church bulletins, giving insight into worship and activities at St. Mark's. Other materials in printed provide a picture of activities happening at the church. The Vacation Bible School materials show the types of material created and used within the African Methodist Episcopal and United Methodist churches. Together these files show Coan's involvement in the administration and leadership of St. Mark's Church and his commitment to local church community over the course of decades.

The series consists of files relating to Coan's teaching career at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), Morris Brown College, Turner Theological Seminary, and The Wilberforce Institute in South Africa from 1936-1994. Other files relate to Coan's involvement with various education development committees at the Atlanta Theological Association during his time at ITC.

Coan's ITC files make up the largest part of the series, followed by Morris Brown College and Turner Theological Seminary. The majority of the material consists of administrative and course files. The administrative files contain faculty meeting minutes, memorandums, correspondence, scheduling documents from the Office of the Registrar, and reports on college administration and curriculum. Coan's course files are arranged by class and contain syllabi, assignments, lectures, notes, and student writing. In particular, Coan's courses provide material on various aspects of missions, Christianity in Africa, and religious education. Student writing demonstrates student work at the schools where Coan taught.

The significant themes in Coan's teaching career are evident in looking at his course files across schools. A smaller amount of material within teaching files pertains to conferences, events, and campus organizations Coan was affiliated with through his role as administrator and teacher. The Wilberforce Institute files differ somewhat in content from the other schools. Most of the material relates to Coan's role as superintendent and include rules and regulations, disciplinary action, receptions, and legal proceedings. Other material includes programs, fliers, and correspondence to and from Coan relating to his teaching.

The series contains files on other organizations and associations that Coan was involved with, as well as some files on topics of interest to Coan. In particular, there are a number of files on the American Society of African Culture, including conference materials. There are also a number of files on the National Council of the Churches of Christ, including reports of the Cooperative Curriculum Project, a religious curriculum development plan that Coan was involved with in the 1960s. Other files speak to Coan's involvement and awareness in Atlanta, including the Atlanta Job Corps, the Russell Street Baptist Church and the Church/Business Jobs Network. There is also a file on Sammye E Coan Middle School, named in memory of Coan's first wife.

The series contains photographs from across Coan's adult life. There are images from Coan's graduation from Howard University to his time teaching at the International Theological Center. The series also contains a significant number of photos from Coan's time in Africa. These are photos of people connected to the African Methodist Episcopal Church and Wilberforce Academy, as well as general photos from South Africa. There also photos from Coan's travels outside of South Africa, to places including Zambia, in his role as Superintendent with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The photos provide insight into the people that Coan worked and associated with during his time in Africa. Photos in the United States document events and places and Coan's associates. The series also contains a number of photo postcards, from Africa, the United States, and Canada. Some additional photographs relating to Coan's time in Africa can be found in the scrapbook in Series 9, Personal Papers.

The series contains the personal papers of Coan, his first wife, Sammye Fuller Coan, and his second wife, Eloise Morris Coan. Papers include financial and legal records, memorabilia, student and professional materials, and items from Coan's time in South Africa. Coan's detailed financial records document his income and expenses. The memorabilia contains certificates, cards, and materials from events such as birthdays and parties.

The items relating to South Africa are of particular interest. They include Coan's tickets to South Africa, gas ration cards, and customs and immigration papers. The South Africa materials also contain Coan's membership cards for the African United Cultural & Domestic Workers' Club and the Bantu Men's Social Centre. The Bantu Men's Social Centre included activists such as Nelson Mandela among its members.

The Sammye Fuller Coan materials include her diplomas and other academic materials. The Eloise Morris Coan materials contain items primarily relating to her church and alumni activities. For Coan's student writings, see Writings by Coan (Subseries 2.1).

The series consists of printed material collected by Coan dating from 1925-1994. The printed material includes items by and about Coan and relating to individuals, churches, and organizations. Additional printed material relating to Coan's time in Africa can be found in the scrapbook in Series 9, Personal Papers.